Vacation to Italy

I had gotten seriously into reading from the family library in the study room. It was a giant room, which looked like an archive room from those movies with endless aisles, endless shelves and endless books and times lined all over.

There wasn't a single speck of dust on any books, and apparently they were all charmed to be aired and ventilated to prevent damage to the books due to dampness and dust. The books were all as old as seventh century scrolls and tomes from all over the world, with one section having Scrolls lined into the wall. Father prohibited me from going there, since they were all delicate and obscure scrolls, and I could read them, only when I was old enough.

I had taken the magical studies with storm. Memorizing the Herbology data, where I had to remember not only the various parts of the plants and fungi that were extracted, but also their uses, their properties, their applications, and their interactions with other similar or different ingredients. Similarly, the spell-casting with a magical focus, the wandless magic types and uses, other magical practises in other countries, and even their own classification of magic into different schools.

With my child's malleable brain, and integrated memories, I could compartmentalize information better, segregate it and recall it better, and connect information, ideas and concepts better.

With that, I left the Hogwarts study and syllabus aside. I didn't want to waste time studying the Hogwarts education now, when I have to spent 7 years doing the same. It would reveal my hand before I intend to, and I would be bored there with nothing new to learn.

What is the point of learning all seven years worth of spell, and then go to the school to waste time? I would rather fine-tune my basics, dive and delve deeper into obscure arcane arts, and fortify my bases and strengths while exploring new avenues.

I began asking my father to gather up on Indian Magical Healing and Medical Texts, Chinese Chi Practises and Cultivation methods, Japan's, Mahoutokoro syllabus and classification of electives and the same for other Magical Schools like Ilvermony, Castellobruxo, Ugadou, Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and even the isolated Chinese and Indian Magical Schools.

Apart form that, I learnt the Shamans from the Native American Tribes can use skinchanging and other rituals to become effectively, shapeshifters. They could even become Magical Animagi which is thought to be simply impossible and a rumour in the European magical societies.

I was going to explore all avenues of progress and development possible, and nitpick on the best, before I oblige to focus and converge on a single path.

I had a roadmap in mind, and apart from learning all there is to learn, I had to understand just how wide the skies really are, if the skies are the limit!

On my fifth birthday, we left for Venice to visit my grandparents on my mother's side. My grandfather was how I imagined a Capo in Italian Mafia would be like. All stone-faced and BAMF, and prioritises only about Grandson, Honour, Family, Money (And exactly in that order!).

So, when I spoke in fluent Venetian dialect and greeted them with flourish, my grandma picked me up and hugged me so tightly and for so long, that she didn't relent until grandpa told her she was suffocating me.

We discussed my studies, and how far I have come with my education and training. When he heard about my progress, he looked like it was because of him, that I achieved it, and gloated to my grandma. "See, I told you. He is mine, alright."

There was a bickering there, where they claimed my genius came from their own good genes, but I was giggling all the while, to not care who said what.

Seeing I was matured, and learnt my lesson from the incident which brought me into this world, I was allowed to roam around the Country side, but only when the four of them were by my side all the time.

We visited all the shops and the weekly markets and lined shops, while looking around for something interesting.

Finally, after a small but hearty meal, we went deeper beyond the settlement, where my grandparents had their own Terrarium, but with Runespoors and Adders of all things! But, to everyone's surprise, and mine, I started hissing and talking to the adult Runespoor, who then wrapped herself around me, and made me sit in her nest.

That was a shock or two for all of us, but my grandparents and father held their wand steady, since the three headed giant snake didn't coil around me or hurt me. But, my mother was ready to slaughter the serpent, when I stopped her.

"Stop mommy! She says that little snakes should not roam around dangerous places. So she is keeping me here."

I stopped when I said that, because the only dangerous element around here was the Runespoor AND my mother. And that notion was quite clear to me, when I realised I didn't want either the motherly Runespoor or my mother to attack each other. So, I calmed her down by petting under her jaws, where she shivered and leaned into my hand, the other snakelings did the same, when I petted them between their eyes and under their jaws.

I promised the snake, that I would come visit her often, and left to see the other beasts being farmed here, to ensure my mother doesn't kill her in a fit of rage.

There were a few exotic ones, like Erumpents and Mooncalves, but after talking to all of them and understanding their demands and plights, I told their caretakers their demands. I was happy to see them snuggle upto me, and as a creature lover, I enjoyed the affections the creatures showed me.